First contact point: MigraNet-Immigration Counseling

The immigration counseling of the Bavarian IQ-network offers individual support concerning issues such as visa, residence, access to the labor market and shortage occupations. It is addressed to individuals who are interested in working, studying or vocational education and training in Germany as well as to interested employers and multiplicators. You can reach us by e-mail, telephone or make an appointment for a face to face counseling session in German, English and Spanish. Other languages are also available on request.

For more information regarding the immigration counseling we recommend you to our homepage.

Hotline Working and Living in Germany

This hotline offers personalised information and advice, in German or English, on the following topics:

job search, work and careers; recognition of foreign vocational qualifications, entry and residence; learning German. The hotline is available from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CET, Monday through Friday, under the telephone number +49 30 1815-1111.

You are an EU citizen, or a citizen of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland

As an EU citizen, you do not require a visa to enter Germany, nor do you have to request a residence or employment permit. You can work in Bavaria at any time. The same applies for citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

You are a citizen of Bulgaria, Romania or Croatia

Currently, citizens of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia still need to request a special permit from the Central Placement Office of the Federal Employment Agency (Zentrale Auslands- und Fachvermittlung der Bundesagentur für Arbeit - ZAV) in specific cases in order to have permission to work in Germany. Exceptions are made primarily for people, who have been to university and wish to take a job corresponding to this qualification, as well as for family members entitled to freedom of movement. In addition, you will not need a work permit, if you intend to take up vocational training in a company in Germany.

You are a citizen of another country

For citizens of all other countries: You will require a residence permit that expressly allows you to work in Germany.

Under the German Residence Act, the following permits to stay in Germany are available (as of August 2013):

If you already know which German city or community you wish to live in, then you can address your questions directly to the respective Foreign Residents Authority (each with jurisdiction for one city or one county district) (website in German)

As of 1 July 2013, Germany adopted further measures to facilitate immigration. For example, skilled workers from non-EU countries can also come to Germany, when

the competent body has established the equivalent nature of their foreign vocational training (further information).

they have a job or have been given a binding offer of a job in Germany.

there is a shortage of skilled personnel with this trade or profession on the German employment market. These professions are listed in the so-called “Whitelist” of the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

You do not require a visa, for example, if you come from one of the following countries:

Australia

Israel

Japan

Canada

New Zealand

Republic of Korea

USA

You can then turn directly to your respective Foreign Residents Authority (Ausländerbehörde).

When applying for a visa, you should be able to present a concrete employment offer. University graduates represent an exception: They can also request a visa while searching for employment.

After arrival

As soon as you've arrived in Germany, you'll have to request a permit from the local Foreign Residents Authority, such as a residence permit or an EU Blue Card, unless you arrived with a visa that fully covers the planned duration of your stay.

The Foreign Residents Office will handle consent from the Federal Employment Agency. That means you won't need to approach both agencies, rather only the Foreign Residents Office.

Migration check, leaflets and further information:

An initial point of contact to find out if you can work in Bavaria without any problem is offered by the Federal Employment Agency's Migration Check.

Further information on the subjects of "Working in Germany", visa requirements, residence permits and application documents can be obtained: